A multi-million dollar publishing deal for Jerry Falade's debut crime novel, Call Me, I'll Hide the Body, collapsed on July 31, 2026.
Publishers and agents raised concerns about potential artificial intelligence involvement in the drafting process.
The manuscript had attracted bids exceeding $2 million from Macmillan US imprint Minotaur, along with several six-figure international offers.
Film and television studios had already begun competing for adaptation rights.
Concerns surfaced after an editor noticed signs of AI use. Agents withdrew the manuscript due to copyright and authenticity issues.
The author's literary agents issued a formal statement explaining their decision to retract the book after losing the ability to authenticate its development history.
"Jerry Falade produced an incredible manuscript that dazzled us and the top publishing professionals around the world.
Unfortunately, we are no longer able to authenticate how the manuscript fully evolved from origin to completion," said Sandy Hodgman, independent agent at Hodgman Literary.
The agency clarified that initial assurances regarding the writing process could no longer be verified prior to pulling the manuscript from market consideration entirely.
"During the submission process we vetted the manuscript with Jerry for AI and felt trusting in his reassurance that it was written without utilising AI as a resource in the writing or editorial process.
We can no longer substantiate that, and we are withdrawing the book," said Sandy Hodgman.
Europa Content agent Marc Gerald noted that he initially read the manuscript in June before doubts emerged during submission.
"Stunningly good, everyone fell in love with it. It's a book that appeals to absolutely everyone," said Marc Gerald, agent at Europa Content.
The agency decided to sever ties following a July 29 meeting when key details shifted, leading them to question the background of the work.
"We feel terrible for putting this into the universe and the firestorm it has caused.
The book itself is genius – however it came to be drafted, it's amazing," said Marc Gerald.
In response to the deal cancellation, Falade denied using generative AI tools and cited racial bias within the industry.
He noted that other Black authors faced similar accusations this year.
"Three Black authors received major publishing deals this year, and all three later had deals cancelled or disrupted following suspicions about AI.
There seems to be a troubling assumption that when a Black writer produces work that attracts significant attention, the work could not possibly be their own.
Meanwhile, there are popular white writers who have publicly mentioned using AI for their writing processes and they're still doing fine," said Jerry Falade.
Falade reiterated his position and expressed frustration over the sudden loss of support from his representation amid public speculation.
"The accusations are wrong, and I am completely innocent.
I was on the verge of success, and then all of a sudden, there were rumors, but no one asked me anything.
I don't know why my agency did not have my back," said Jerry Falade.
The author maintained that the project originated strictly through personal effort despite the fallout severely damaging his professional prospects.
"I've lost so much already. I have no one to call… no friends in this industry.
I don't know anything. I simply wrote my manuscript, and it sparked crazy bidding wars across multiple countries," said Jerry Falade.
The incident follows a similar dispute in March when author Mia Ballard faced widespread online accusations regarding AI assistance on her horror novel, Shy Girl.
"This controversy has changed my life in many ways and my mental health is at an all time low and my name is ruined for something I didn't even personally do," said Mia Ballard.
The decision by publishers comes as major publishing houses navigate copyright uncertainties while mounting legal challenges against AI developers over copyrighted text usage.
